Food Service Interns and On-Call Positions

The Harker School; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

The Harker School in San Jose, CA is seeking a kitchen assistant intern to support food preparation for breakfast and lunch, assist in cooking and plating, and help maintain a clean kitchen environment.

Interns must be enrolled in a culinary program, able to pass fingerprint and TB clearance, and prepared for a varied schedule. This role emphasizes food safety, teamwork, and efficient operations in a fast-paced school cafeteria.

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in a culinary school.
• Ability to receive fingerprint clearance from a federal and state background check.
• Ability to provide a negative TB test result.
• Willingness to work a varied schedule assigned by the food service department.
• Knowledge of proper food handling procedures.

Responsibilities

• Prepare cold and hot foods for breakfast and lunch, assist with cooking, baking, portioning, plating and serving.
• Maintain a clean, organized kitchen environment.
• Support the operation by working with Kitchen Manager, Cooks, Pastry Chef and other staff.
• Assist with menu planning and prep tasks, stock work stations, and field-trip lunches.
• Assist in dishroom and catering, and perform duties as assigned by supervisors.

Skills

Food safety

Knife skills

Cooking techniques

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Flexible hours

Education

Culinary school enrollment

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Upper School - San Jose, CA 95129; Position Type: Staff; Salary Range: $18.45 - $24.00 per hour.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare cold and hot foods for breakfast and lunch, assist with meal preparation, cooking, baking, portioning, plating, and serving food.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Support the overall operation by working closely with the Kitchen Manager, Cooks, Pastry Chef, and other food service staff.
• Support the school's mission, goals, policies, and procedures while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, food safety, and customer service.
• Assist with menu planning; sandwich prep; salad bar maintenance; special event preparation; stock work station; serving meals; packing field‑trip lunches; wrapping and labeling unused food; sanitizing kitchen; preparing menu foods for the next day; stocking and serving snack bar; organizing and cleaning walk‑in freezer and storeroom; and putting orders away in proper FIFO order.
• Assist in other areas including dishroom and catering, and perform other duties as needed and assigned by the Cook, Kitchen Manager, or Food Service Director.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a culinary school.
• Ability to receive fingerprint clearance from a federal and state background check.
• Ability to provide a negative TB test result.
• Ability to accept guidance, supervision, and instruction.
• Willingness to work a varied schedule of hours and days assigned by the food service department.
• Knowledge of proper food handling procedures.
• Ability to change tasks efficiently and complete assigned jobs on time.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Developed knowledge of knife skills and cooking techniques.
• Knowledge of and ability to operate kitchen equipment safely and effectively.
• Ability to cooperate in a kitchen environment, individually and in a team.
• Ability to understand, accept, and follow guidance, instruction, supervision, and requests for assistance.
• Must be able to work in a noisy and crowded environment, in fumes and odors, with exposure to varying temperatures, chemicals used in washing, frequent immersion of hands in water, and wear proper slip‑resistant shoes and required uniform at all times.

Schedules

Internship: Monday through Friday, up to 40 hours per week, with occasional weekend hours as needed.
On‑call: scheduled based on departmental needs.